A Nigerian national identified as Tony Obina, popularly known as Tony Obi, has been recaptured after escaping from the Kakata Central Prison in Margibi County, Liberia, barely two weeks after his conviction in a major narcotics trafficking case.
BREAKING: Notorious Nigerian drug dealer Tony Obina recaptured after prison escape
Tony Obina, recently convicted of drug trafficking, was reportedly recaptured after escaping from Kakata Central Prison in Margibi, Liberia.
He was convicted alongside two NDLEA officers, who… pic.twitter.com/cFUS2mnBxo
— The Yoruba Times (@TheYorubaTimes) September 21, 2026
Obi was reportedly among several inmates who broke out of the correctional facility in a prison breach that triggered a massive security operation across the county.
According to reports from Liberia, the convicted drug trafficker was apprehended on Sunday by a combined team of law enforcement officers and local community members while allegedly attempting to flee the county.
His recapture came shortly after a 12-member jury at the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County found Obi and two agents of the Liberia National Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) guilty of illicit drug trafficking.
The verdict was delivered on September 8, 2026, following a trial centred on a major cocaine seizure valued at approximately $181,008 and more than 63.2 million Liberian dollars.
Obi’s conviction had placed him at the centre of one of Liberia’s high-profile narcotics cases involving a substantial quantity of cocaine and allegations of collaboration with officials of the country’s drug enforcement agency.
His escape from Kakata Central Prison, however, triggered a fresh security crisis, with authorities launching a manhunt for other inmates who reportedly fled the facility.
The circumstances surrounding the prison breach and how the inmates managed to escape are expected to come under further investigation.
Meanwhile, residents of Kakata who assisted security agencies in locating and apprehending Obi have been commended for their vigilance and cooperation.
With Obi back in custody, attention is now expected to shift to the investigation into the prison escape, the whereabouts of the remaining fugitives and possible security lapses that enabled the jailbreak.
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